Cases for portable sewing machines



Aprll 26, 1960 c, gA ETAL 2,933,849

CASES FOR PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS CARL GAlSER, MARCEL FRESARD April 26, 1960 c. GAISER ET AL CASES FOR PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9, 1958 INVENTORS, CARL GAISER, MARGEL FRESARD CASES non PORTABLE SEWING MACHINES Carl Gaiser. Gehling, Turgi, and Marcel Fresard, Geneva,

Switzerland, assignors to Mefina S.A., Fribourg, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland The present invention relates to a carrying case for a portable sewing machine of, the type provided with a free arm.

Numerous types of cases of this general character are known. The'case according to this invention relates to the type of case comprising'two sections, of which one is stationary relatively to the bottom of the case, while the other is movable and is adapted tov serve as a work table for the sewing machine. The moving sectionis provided with an opening to enable it to be engaged about the free arm of the sewing machine when it is used as a work table.

nited States Patent In known cases of this type, the means for securing the movable section to the stationary section is complicated and lacks security. Further, the closing of the opening.

in the movable section, when .it is not being used as a Work table, is effected by means of a part which is independent of the case, and for this reason risks being easily mislaid.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to remedy the aforesaid disadvantages by providing novel locking means for securing the two sections together when the case is in closed position.

Another object is to provide a carrying case wherein the two sections are readily separable from each other when the movable section is to be used as a work table.

A still further object is to provide novel guide means to prevent disengagement of the upper edges of the .respective sections and at the same time ensure proper fitting of adjacent edges of the two sections when the case is closed.

One form of construction of the case according to the invention is shown diagrammatically and by way of'example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is aview in perspective of the closed case.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing the case open, and the movable section being separated from the fixed section.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective showing the movable section engaged around the free arm of the sewing machine so as to constitute the work table.

Fig. 4 is a partial section of the case in the closed posi tion, made in a plane perpendicular to the plane of contact of the two sections.

Fig. 5 is a section of a detail of the locking device and.

the hinged plate with the opening of the movable section closed and the case in locked condition.

The case for the portable sewing machine, with a free arm, shown in the drawing, comprises two sections 1 and 2 and a base 3. The section 1 is stationary relatively to the base 3, while the section 2 is movable. Said'movable section 2 is adapted to serve as a work table for the sewing machine and for this reason it is provided with an opening 4 enabling it to engage around the free arm 5 of a sewing machine 6 (Fig. 3). The plane of contact of the two sections 1 and 2, one against the other in the closed position of the case, coincides substantially with the largest median plane of said case.

Patented Apr. 26, 1960 The means for locking the movable section 2 in closed position comprises a plate 7 connected by means of a hinge 8 to the edge 9 of the base 3 of the case. Said plate 7 is adapted, on the one hand, to cover the opemng 4 provided in the movable section 2 and, on the other hand, to ensure the maintenance of the movable section 2 in the closed position. A locking device designated generally as 10, is carried by the hinged plate 7. The bolt 11 of said locking device is constituted by an elastic blade adapted to flex when his moved into locking position. The extremity of said bolt 11 has formed therein a notch 12, adapted to co-operate with a flanged strip 13 secured along "the edge of the opening 4 to retain the bolt 11 in locking position (see Fig. 5). The bolt 11 is provided with a handle 14 by means of which it is possible .to cause the said bolt 11 to slide in two openings 15 and 16 of a casing 17 secured to the plate 7. When the bolt 11 is moved into its locking position, the extremity 18 thereof, which is in the form of a ramp, slides on the strip 13 of the opening 4 while imparting a flexing movement to the bolt. When the notch 12 comes opposite the strip 13, the bolt 11, by reason of its elasticity, straightens slightly and snaps into locking position. The notch 12 prevents any accidental movement of the bolt 11 under the action of shocks or vibrations, for example,

' during transport of the case and the sewing machine which it encloses.

The upper edge 19 of the stationary section 1 has a portion in the form of a gutter 20 which is open downwardly (see Fig. 4). Opposite the opening of said gutter 20 is located a guide plate 21 secured against the inner face of the edge 19. As regards the upper edge 22 of the movable section 2, it is bent upwardly substantially at right angles. As will be understood readily with reference to Figs. 2 and 4, it is possible to engage the upper edge 22 of the movable section 2 in the gutter 20 of the stationary section 1, when the movable section 2 is set substantially perpendicular to the stationary section (see Fig. 2) and is then lowered against the latter,(see Figs. 1 and 4). in this position, the guide plate 21 prevents any disengagement of the upper edge 22 of the movable section 2 out of the gutter 20, said section being in the closed position of the case.

It will also be seen in Fig. 2 that the guide plate 21, located opposite the opening of the gutter 20, is extended at 23 along the lateral edges 24 of the stationary section 1. These extensions 23 of the guide plate 21 ensure a perfect superposition of the edges 25 of the movable section 2 against the edges 24 of the stationary section 1. When the two sections 1 and 2 are thus brought one against the other, it sufiices to lower the plate 7 against the opening 4 and to push the bolt 11 of the lock 10 upwardly until the notch 12 of the bolt engages against the strip 13 of the opening 4, so that the maintenance of the case in the closed position is assured.

Said case also comprises, in the interior of the sections 1 and 2, two reinforcing parts 26 and 27 adapted to ensure the maintenance of the sewing machine 6 in the central portion of the case when it is closed. Said reinforcing parts 26 and 27 are covered with a protective covering 28 to avoid damaging the top of the sewing machine. Further, the strip 13 of the opening 4 is also provided with a protective covering 29, in the present case a layer of plastic material or rubber, adapted to avoid damaging the free. arm 5 of the sewing machine when the movable section 2 is engaged around it. The friction of said covering 29 against the arm 5 serves to maintain the movable section 2 in engagement therewith. A handle 30 is hinged to the edge 19 of the stationary section 1 for facilitating transport of the case and of the sewing machine which it encloses.

Numerous modifications of construction of said case for a sewing machine may be imagined. Thus, the hooking of the movable section 2 on the stationary section l may be effected in any other manner. For example, it is possible, instead and in place of the gutter 20 and or the folded edge 22, to provide the edges 19 and 22 of the sections 1 and 2 with removable hinges;'of the-'type of those used, for example; normally for the casings o'ftype-writers; s

It will, however, be seenthatthe constructive solution envisaged in the form of construction above-describedwith reference to the drawing, isvery simple and permits securing the removable section 2 tothe stationary section 1 to provide complete security'for the sewing machine-in the closed positionof the case.

We claim:

1. A carrying case'for'a' portable sewing machine hav-- ing a free arm, said case'comprising'first and second sections each having a top wall; oppositely disposed end wallsand aside wall, said first section provided with a fixedbase, said second section separable from said-first section and adapted to serve as a work table for a sewing ma'- chine, said second section having an opening in its side wall for embracing the free arm of said sewing machine when said second section is used as a work table, a portionof the upper edge of said first section bent into an inverted 25 U-shape, a portion of the upper edge of said second section bent upwardly so as to lie within the bent upper secure said first and second sections together when they are in closed'relation to each other.

2. The carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said guide means extends downwardly along the inner edges of'the side walls of said first section to ensure proper fitting of the edges of said first'and second sections.

3. The carrying case according, to claim 1, wherein said locking means includes a casing carried by said plate member, a flexible bolt slidably mounted in said casing,

and meanss'ecured to the inner edge o'flsaid' opening inthe sidewall of saidsecond s'e'c'tion 'to engage said. bolt when.

the latter is moved to locking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Robert--. Aug. 23, 1949 Gaiser Dec. 29, 1953 

